Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Kiama Naim (Science Officer) in Main Sim: Science Lab - Analyzing the piece of debris

Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Main Sim: Science Lab - Analyzing the piece of debris

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Kiama Naim (Science Officer) in Main Sim: Science Lab - Analyzing the piece of debris
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Kiama nodded and started to scan the fragment to determine it’s age. Pursing her lips slightly, she was silent for a moment before musing aloud, “I’m curious how the Romulans got here and when, and what has happened to them. And then there are those incorporeal beings. It is all very strange.” Trying to be casual and nonchalant about it she added, “Also, I’m afraid you have to talk to the new CSO to make sure that he is fine with the Arboretum as well.” Pressing her lips together, she briefly looked up at Faye before returning her focus to the piece of metal in front of her again.

~Lt. j.g. Naim, Scientist

Calloway cast a ‘really?’ look at Naim and snorted. “Too late? It’s a thing. The garden is half built and the CO has approve it too. So… too bad for him. He can go complain to his pet targ for all I care.” Leaning forward, Calloway studied the other scientist. “I know I’m not the most socially in-touch person, but something tells me that whatever happened is about to induce a twitch in you. I mean, I was surprised at the change in staff. Something tells me you wer too.”

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist

“Surprised is one way to put it,” Kiama grumbled, but stopped herself from saying something she might regret and took a deep breath instead. “I had been under the impression I’d stay CSO and eventually take over the position permanently. It’s …” She stopped herself again and sighed while leaning backwards against the counter behind her, her hands and behind resting against it’s edge. Still with a hint of sharpness in her voice, she continued, “I mean, I never expected to become even acting Chief Science Officer right after graduating from the Academy. Yet I’ve been feeling comfortable and confident in that role and I thought I had been doing a decent job. Probably not perfect, but …” Towards the end she heard a quiver in her voice and made herself stop talking again. Instead she closed her eyes, inhaled deeply and then held her breath for a moment or two before exhaling slowly again. Only then did she open her eyes again and look straight at Faye once more. “I wish someone had at least told me beforehand and it hadn’t been sprung at me like that. But I guess there is no reason complaining about spilled milk,” she continued, her voice a little softer and steadier. She wasn’t even sure if she was feeling more frustrated and upset about what felt like a demotion or about the way it had happened. It all felt a little much to her and she was beginning to be worried that she’d take her frustration out on Faye and that would be utterly unfair.

~Lt. j.g. Naim, Scientist

Faye chewed on the inside of her cheek, her grey-green eyes drifting off to the side as she pondered this unusual situation. “Well… that sucks.” She sighed. “I am not going to be that person that says ‘well it could have been worse’, but at least you didn’t turn down two promotions to CSO,” she said with a tiny smirk. “I had my reasons, but the second one, well… I regretted it almost immediately even if it made sense in the moment. I wasn’t expecting it and I was not in any mental position to lead anyone. I may not know you all that well, Kiama, but I can guarantee that this won’t be your only shot. At least you know it’s something you want now, right?”

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist

“Huh.” Kiama blinked a couple of times, taken a little by surprise by Faye’s words and the emotions she was sensing from the other woman. She got the feeling that there was a lot more to it then she was saying. It certainly brought her up short and while she still struggled with the whole situation and with how she felt about it, Faye’s words helped putting things in a slightly different perspective. “I suppose,” Kiama allowed. “I just can’t stop wondering if I got replaced because I wasn’t good enough or did something wrong. I think it would be different if I had gotten replaced by someone more experienced. But Lieutenant Duras just graduated himself according to his file. I just don’t understand it and I understand even less why nobody told me beforehand. I was more than a little surprised when he just walked into what I thought was my office. And I probably wasn’t exactly polite as a result.” Kiama sighed again and bowed her head, looking at her feet while moving the tip of her right food slightly across the floor.

~Lt. j.g. Naim, Scientist

Calloway snorted. “I think you’ve forgotten who you’re talking to. I’ve practically made a name for myself as being difficult. Polite? Please. I’ve made it to the rank of full Lieutenant and never once did it involve kissing ass or heaps of politeness.” She rolled her eyes. “And give yourself a fvadt break. I know Captain Cochrane. If you screwed up, he’d tell you, so as someone who is notoriously terrible to herself and rarely sees herself in a good light, I’m telling you chill out a bit. It’s a sucky situation but if you ever want to hear stories about how Starfleet can really screw up, I’m your gal.” she gestured to Kiama, turning her finger in a circles. “This? This is is not screwing up.”

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist